[LargeFormat] Re: Tips on Architecture photographs

[Stan McQueen]

At 09:01 PM 7/13/2003, you wrote:
>>This raises an interesting point. Depending on which country you are in, 
>>you are will certainly be infringing the copyright of the architect if 
>>you take unauthorised photographs of his/her building. In general, non 
>>specific streetscapes are allowed without permission but photographs of 
>>individual buildings are not.

In the US, I don't believe a building can be copyrighted. The architect's 
plans can be, and probably are, copyrighted, but not the building itself. 
Some have attempted to prevent photography by trademarking the building 
(the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame comes to mind) and have prosecuted 
photographers who took pictures. As far as I am aware, in every case that 
actually went to trial (many photographers just settled out of court, not 
having the resources to take it to trial), the photographer prevailed and 
the trademark was struck down.

You can refer to Bert Krages' excellent book, Legal Handbook for 
Photographers: The Rights and Liabilities of Making Images, for more 
information. It is available on Amazon. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy 
with me right now, so I'm writing from memory.

Stan

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Photography by Stan McQueen
http://www.smcqueen.com